Life Table Studies of Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) and Chrysodeixis (= Pseudoplusia) Includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Artificial Diet

Authors

  • M. José Barrionuevo
  • M. Gabriela Murúa
  • Lucía Goane
  • Robert Meagher
  • Fernando Navarro

Abstract

Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) and Chrysodeixis (= Pseudoplusia) includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are 2 economically important species in soybean in northern Argentina. Life cycle, reproductive and population parameters of R. nu and C. includens reared on artificial diet were determined under controlled environmental conditions. Fecundity increased from d 2 to 3 with values of 67.6 eggs per female for R. nu and 75.7 eggs for C. includens. An average of 79.9% (R. nu) and 74.4% (C. includens) of individuals reached the larval stage and 71.1% (R. nu) and 71.4% (C. includens) of individuals reached the adult stage. The life expectancy (ex) curve showed 4 and 3 periods of mortality. The survivorship curves of the 2 species resembled the theoretical type I. Life table analysis determined that R. nu and C. includens have the potential to quickly increase their populations under controlled rearing conditions. These results provide important information that will be used to improve artificial rearing procedures contributing with biological studies towards to develop management programs of both species.

Resumen: Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) y Chrysodeixis (= Pseudoplusia) includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) son dos especies de importancia económica de la soja en el noroeste argentino. Se determinaron parámetros del ciclo de vida, reproductivos y poblacionales de R. nu y C. includens criadas en dieta artificial bajo condiciones ambientales controladas. La fecundidad incrementó entre el segundo y tercer día con valores de 67,6 por hembra para R. nu y 75,7 huevos para C. includens. Un promedio de 71,1% (R. nu) y 71,4% (C. includens) de individuos alcanzaron el estado adulto y la curva de expectativa de vida (ex) mostró cuatro y tres períodos de mortalidad. La curva de supervivencia de las dos especies fue comparable a la Curva de Tipo I. El análisis de tabla de vida reveló que R. nu y C. includens tienen el potencial de incrementar rápidamente su población bajo condiciones controladas de cría. Estos resultados proporcionan información importante que podrá ser utilizada para mejorar los procedimientos de cría artificial contribuyendo con estudios biológicos orientados a desarrollar programas de manejo de ambas especies.

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Published

2012-12-01

Issue

Vol. 95, No. 4 (December 2012)

Section

Research Papers

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